TCAS II version 7.

1
An overview on the Pilots and ATC on the TCAS II
7.1 Euro version

TCAS II version 7.1

Overview for pilots

Why version 7.1?

TCAS II version 7.0 mandated in Europe since 2000
Safety issues identified in version 7.0:
Unintentional opposite pilot response to Adjust vertical speed,
adjust RAs
Level busts following Adjust vertical speed, adjust RAs
Flaws in the reversal logic
TCAS II version 7.1 will address these safety issues
Level off, level off RA
Improvements to reversal logic

Note: TCAS versions are backwards compatible

Unintentional opposite pilot response to Adjust

vertical speed, adjust RAs
Adjust vertical speed, adjust RAs
always require reduction of vertical
speed
The only RA that does not clearly
communicate what exact manoeuvre
is required
Numerous cases reported when pilots
unintentionally increased vertical
speed responding to Adjust vertical
speed, adjust RAs
Accidents avoided by chance

Level busts following Adjust vertical

speed, adjust RAs
Adjust vertical speed, adjust RAs often
unnecessarily affected ATC operations
Contribution to level busts (in
situations where otherwise there
would not have been a level bust)
Pilots following green arc not
levelling off at the cleared level
Reason for RAs on the other aircraft

Flaws in reversal logic

Version 7.0 will not reverse an RA if two
aircraft converging in altitude remain
within 100 feet
One aircraft is not responding to RA; or
One aircraft is not equipped and follows
ATC instruction or visual avoidance
Contributory factor in 2 accidents:
2001 Yaizu accident
2002 berlingen midair collision
Several other serious events reported

Who & When?

Aircraft currently equipped with version 7.0 will need to be upgraded to version 7.1 before 1
December 2015 in order to continue to operate in European Community airspace.
All new aircraft above 5700 kg Maximum Take-off Mass or with passenger seating capacity
above 19 will have to be equipped from 1 March 2012.
The above applies to European and foreign aircraft.
Note: The EU Implementing Rule sets an earlier equipage requirements than those published
in ICAO Annex 10 (i.e. 1 January 2014 new installations, 1 January 2017 existing units).

Level off, level off RA (1/6)

New RA introduced in version 7.1: Level off, level off
Pilots will reduce the vertical rate to 0 ft/min (i.e. level off)
The level off is to be achieved promptly, not at the next flight
level
It replaces the existing Adjust vertical speed, adjust RA to
address the issue of unintentional incorrect pilot responses
Applies to both:
Initial RAs
Weakening RAs

Level off, level off RA (2/6)

Initial RA

Level off, level off RA (3/6)

Initial RA
Pilot actions
Reduce the vertical rate to 0
ft/min (i.e. level off)
The level off must be achieved
promptly, not at the standard
next flight level (e.g. FL200,
FL210, etc.)

Level off,
Level off

Level off, level off RA (4/6)

Weakening RA
A RA will weaken when vertical spacing increases following the initial RA
In version 7.0 the weakening RA also always requires a level off

Level off, level off RA (5/6)

Weakening RA
Weakening RA (typically subsequently to
Climb or Descend RA)
Reduce the vertical rate to 0ft/min (i.e. level
off)
The level off must be achieved promptly, not
at the standard next flight level

Level off,
Level off

Level off, level off RA (6/6)

Level off, level off RA will reduce instances of:
RAs- as follow up RAs are less likely
Level busts as a result of RA

Improvement to the reversal logic (1/3)

Version 7.1s improved reversal logic recognizes situations when two
converging aircraft:
remain within 100 feet
one aircraft is not responding to the RA or is not equipped
A reversal RA (i.e. Climb, climb NOW or Descend, descend NOW)
will be issued to the aircraft that is correctly responding to the
current RA

Improvement to the reversal logic (2/3)

Improvement to the reversal logic (3/3)

Improvement to the reversal logic is transparent for pilots

No change to the required pilot actions:
Always follow the RA: Follow the RA even if the RA is contradictory to
ATC instructions
Respond to reversal RAs within 2.5 seconds. Reversal RAs require a 1500
ft/min. climb or descent rate

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What pilot training is required?

Before the new version of TCAS is deployed to their fleets Aircraft

Operators should ensure that crews are:
aware of the TCAS version upgrade
trained on the new Level off, level off RA and understand how to
respond correctly to this RA
There are no other differences (visible to pilots) between version 7.0 and
version 7.1.

What actions are required by aircraft operators?

Aircraft Operators should ensure that TCAS version 7.1 is deployed on their
fleet according to the mandate.
Aircraft Operators should also ensure that their flight crews understand the
new features version 7.1 brings and are trained on correct responses to
Level off, level off RAs.

Questions?
Need more information?

TCAS II version 7.1

Overview for air traffic controllers

Why version 7.1?

TCAS II version 7.0 mandated in Europe since 2000
Safety issues identified in version 7.0:
Unintentional opposite pilot response to Adjust vertical
speed, adjust RAs
Level busts following Adjust vertical speed, adjust RAs
Flaws in the reversal logic

 TCAS II version 7.1 will address these safety issues

Level off, level off RA
Improvements to reversal logic

Unintentional opposite pilot response to Adjust

vertical speed, adjust RAs
Adjust vertical speed, adjust
RAs always require reduction
of vertical speed
The only RA that does not clearly
communicate what exact manoeuvre is
required

Numerous cases reported when

pilots unintentionally increased
vertical speed responding to
Adjust vertical speed, adjust
RAs
Accident avoided by chance

Level busts following Adjust vertical, speed,

adjust RAs
Adjust vertical speed, adjust
RAs often unnecessarily affected
ATC operations
Contribution to level busts (in
situations where otherwise there
would not have been a level bust)
Pilots following green arc not
leveling off at the cleared level
Reason for RAs on the other
Aircraft

Flaws in reversal logic

Version 7.0 will not reverse an RA if two aircraft converging in altitude
remain within 100 feet
One aircraft is not responding to RA; or
One aircraft is not equipped and follows ATC instruction or visual avoidance

Contributory factor in 2 accidents:

2001 Yaizu accident
2002 berlingen midair collision
Several other serious events reported

Level off, level off RA (1/5)

New RA introduced in version 7.1: Level off, level off
Pilots will reduce the vertical rate to 0 ft/min. (i.e. level off)
The level off is to be achieved promptly, not at the next flight
level
It replaces the existing Adjust vertical speed, adjust RA to
address the issue of unintentional incorrect pilot responses
Applies to both:
Initial RAs
Weakening RAs

Level off, level off RA (2/5)

Level off, level off RA (3/5)

An RA will weaken when vertical spacing increases following the initial RA
In version 7.0 the weakening RA also always requires a level off

Level off, level off RA (4/5)

Prompt level off will result in some aircraft leveling off hundreds of feet
before their cleared level while responding to this RA
Level off, level off RA will not introduce conflicts with third party
aircraft more frequently than the current version of TCAS

Level off, level off RA (5/5)

Level off, level off RA will reduce instances of:
RAs as follow up RAs are less likely
Level busts as a result of RA

Improvement to the reversal logic

Version 7.1s improved reversal logic recognizes situations when
two aircraft:
Remain within 100 feet and converge
One aircraft is not responding to the RA or is not equipped

A reversal RA (i.e. Climb, climb NOW or Descend, descend

NOW) will be issued to the aircraft that is correctly responding
to the previous RA
Improvement to the reversal logic is transparent for pilots and
controllers

Improvement to the reversal logic

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What controller training is required?

Air Navigation Service Providers should ensure that air traffic
controllers are:
Aware of the TCAS version upgrade
Understand the effect the new Level off, level off RA will have
on ATC operations (i.e. there will be some instances of
premature level-offs by aircraft following the RA)
Beside that there are no differences (visible to pilots and
controllers) between version 7.0 and version 7.1.

How do I know which version of TCAS the aircraft

operates?
There is no need for ATC to know which version of TCAS the aircraft
operates. In Europe there is no requirement to indicate in the flight plan
which version of TCAS the aircraft operates.
TCAS versions are compatible, so proper TCAS-TCAS coordination will take
place in coordinated encounters.
The provision of air traffic services to aircraft equipped with TCAS shall be
identical to those that are not equipped.

Can an aircraft operate without serviceable TCAS?

In Europe an aircraft may operate under the Minimum Equipment List
(MEL) provisions with TCAS II inoperative for up to 10 calendar days.
In German airspace the time period during which TCAS II may be
inoperative is reduced to 3 days. National regulators may impose more
restrictive deadlines for some operators or parts of airspace.
In Europe, there is no requirement to notify ATC or to make a remark in
the flight plan about TCAS II being inoperative

For more info, visit:

www.eurocontrol.int/acas

Philippine Air Carriers Compliant

Traffic Collision Avoidance System
TCAS II version 7.1

No. of Aircraft

Aircraft Type

Status

15

A330-300

All equipped with TCAS version 7.1

17

A321-231

All equipped with TCAS version 7.1

23

A320-200

19 aircrafts with TCAS version 7.1 and 4

aircrafts on-going retrofit.
Target date of completion will be on
N0vember 2015.

A340-300

Three (3) aircraft are already compliant

with Version 7.1
Three(3) aircraft are On-going installation

No. of
Aircraft
8
10
31

Aircraft
Status
Type
ATR 72-212 All equipped with TCAS II version 7.1
A319-111

On going retrofit of TCAS II version

7.1
A320-214 24 aircrafts equipped with TCAS II
version 7.1 while 7 aircrafts on-going
retrofit
A330-343 All equipped with TCAS II version 7.1

ICAO ANNEX 10
Currently, the only commercially available implementations of
ICAO Standards for ACAS II are
TCAS II Versions 7.0
TCAS II Version 7.1 (Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance
System)
ICAO ANNEX IO States that new ACAS installation after 01
January 2014 must be Version 7.1 before January 2017.

A presentation reference to the agenda item

6/9. A report on the TCAS II Euro version 7.1
compliance by Philippine Air Carriers